What Does the Old Testament Say About Hell?

Does the Old Testament teach the concept of hell?

I have read several critics of the doctrine of hell insist that the concept of hell cannot be found in the Old Testament. After asserting this, they say that we cannot establish the doctrine of hell when the Old Testament “does not teach this concept.”

I would respond first by saying that as Christians we have more than ample teaching in the New Testament to establish the doctrine of a literal, eternal hell (see Matthew 3:7, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 5:29-30, Matthew 18:9-12, Matthew 13:38-42, Matthew 13:49-50, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-47, Luke 12:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Jude 7, Revelation 14:11, Revelation 20:13-15, and Revelation 21:8).

This New Testament teaching is quite consistent, though, with the Old Testament. First, the OT contains many references to God’s wrath. He is often said to be angry at wickedness (see, for example, Deuteronomy 32:22, Psalm 2:12, and Psalm 18:7). Psalm 7:11 is one of many verses that indicate this indignation or anger is directed toward those who perpetrate this wickedness (“the wicked”).

The OT prophets repeatedly speak of a time when the Holy One would have His “day” — a day of justice in which He would express His anger toward sin and visit judgment on sinners. They referred to this as “The Day of the Lord.” (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5).

The Psalmist also refers to this day as one of wrath and judgment:

The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath, (Psalm 110:5 ESV)

Daniel describes the duration of this “day” of wrath as eternal:

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2 ESV)

Sheol

One word of caution regarding this topic is that the King James Version often translates the word sheol as “hell.” That these passages are references to the hell taught elsewhere in the OT and fully revealed in the NT is debatable, since the ordinary use of sheol is “death” or “place of the dead.” Nevertheless, it is perhaps noteworthy that many of these passages that speak of sheol do so in terms that bespeak judgment, such as Isaiah 14:15 (KJV), “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Still, these passages are ambiguous at best, as being slain and sent to the place of the dead is often a form of judgment in itself within the OT.

Not only is the doctrine of hell fully revealed in the NT, it is entirely in harmony with the revelation in the OT, which teaches that God will have His day in which He eternally expresses His wrath, visiting judgment upon the wicked. The Old Testament teaches the doctrine of a literal and eternal hell, opposing rather than helping those who reject this teaching.

A flood of false doctrine has lately broken in upon us. Men are beginning to tell us “that God is too merciful to punish souls for ever…that all mankind, however wicked and ungodly…will sooner or later be saved.” We are to embrace what is called “kinder theology,” and treat hell as a pagan fable… This question lies at the very foundation of the whole Gospel. The moral attributes of God, His justice, His holiness, His purity, are all involved in it. The Scripture has spoken plainly and fully on the subject of hell… If words mean anything, there is such a place as hell. If texts are to be interpreted fairly, there are those who will be cast into it… The same Bible which teaches that God in mercy and compassion sent Christ to die for sinners, does also teach that God hates sin, and must from His very nature punish all who cleave to sin or refuse the salvation He has provided.– Source: J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), Holiness

COMMENTS

15 Comments

Your answer Tips around the question without a clear answer. It seems that Hell was added in the NT as incentive to become a Christain or endure the awful consequnses for eternitu

David KowalskiDecember 7, 2017

Thanks for your comment, Paul. I see that we agree the New Testament clearly teaches the concept of eternal hell. You claim to know the motive for the NT teaching, though even if there were some truth to this knowledge of said motive it would have no bearing on the teaching’s veracity. To reject the teaching of hell solely on the basis of a presumed knowledge of the motive behind it would be to commit a form of the genetic fallacy. Your comment reveals a broader rejection of the NT teaching as a valid and reliable, inerrant revelation from God, and the above article was written primarily (though not exclusively) for those who accept the Bible as such.

My contention in the article is that the content of the Old Testament harmonizes with the NT on the topic of hell. I can only suggest you reread the piece for my briefly-stated argument to this effect. I believe the evidence is quite strong that the New Testament teaching about eternal hell is, as I concluded above, “entirely in harmony with the revelation in the OT, which teaches that God will have His day in which He eternally expresses His wrath, visiting judgment upon the wicked.” I realize that many people do not accept the Bible as a revelation from God and on this basis reject any notion of hell, however, anyone who reads the Bible should recognize that what is clearly stated about hell in the New Testament harmonizes with the witness of the Old Testament that repeatedly says God will have a time of everlasting justice that involves an expression of His wrath. Just two of the verses cited in the article:

“The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath,” (Psalm 110:5 ESV)

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2 ESV)

David KowalskiMarch 19, 2018

Just a seemingly needed reminder (not related to Paul’s comment above) about internet protocol. The comments thread of any given article on the internet is for comments or questions related to the substance of that, specific article. There are many topics I would like to discuss in their proper place but this thread is for comments or questions specifically about what the Old Testament says about hell. Thanks.

Reuben HotzenplotzApril 5, 2018

“I would respond first by saying that as Christians we have more than ample teaching in the New Testament to establish the doctrine of a literal, eternal hell”

I am not convinced. If I look up eg Mt 5:22

And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. [1]

what is “fire of hell” in the greek original?

The place outside Jerusalem where unburied criminals were burned [2] with more details given in [3] as follows:

The Jews so abhorred the place after these horrible sacrifices had been abolished by king Josiah (2 Kings 23:10), that they cast into it not only all manner of refuse, but even the dead bodies of animals and of unburied criminals who had been executed. And since fires were always needed to consume the dead bodies, that the air might not become tainted by the putrefaction, it came to pass that the place was called γηννα τοῦ πυρός (this common explanation of the descriptive genitive τοῦ πυρός is found in Rabbi David Kimchi (fl. circa A.D. 1200) on Psalm 27:13.

To summarise, in Mt 5:22 hell is place in this world. I also find that this makes the passage more powerful, not less.

I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. I had pressing, personal concerns. I cite many passages in which the doctrine of hell is taught in the New Testament ( Matthew 3:7, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 5:29-30, Matthew 18:9-12, Matthew 13:38-42, Matthew 13:49-50, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-47, Luke 12:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Jude 7, Revelation 14:11, Revelation 20:13-15, and Revelation 21:8). You have chosen to respond to just one and have not exegeted the text itself but have, instead, referred to the roots from which the NT word for hell is derived. Your point would be legitimate if the etymology of a word or its usage by one, particular, group determined its definition for everyone who uses the word, but it is the usage of a word by a specific group (in context) that determines its meaning for them. Jesus often compared spiritual, heavenly, or eternal truths to temporal things that pictured those truths for those who heard Him (a pearl of great price and seeds, for example) and His followers reflect Jesus’ usage of the word “hell.” I quote just three more passages below that help to show the intent demonstrated in NT usage:

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,” — 2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV
“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” — Jude 7 ESV

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” — Revelation 21:8 ESV

In 1976, Leslie Woodson wrote a very good book that I believe would effectively answer any further questions you might have about the biblical doctrine of hell — https://www.amazon.com/What-Bible-Says-About-Hell/dp/0801095824 I think Woodson shows that hell is eternal in duration (answering objections to this) and is not part of this life.

I cannot answer for what you find more or less powerful. I can only speak to what the New Testament says when the text itself is exegeted — and when this is done I believe the orthodox doctrine of hell is irrefutably established regardless of any comments made by an anti-Christian rabbi (he often debated Christians) who lived from 1160 – 1235 AD, and regardless of any subjective feelings we might have.

The fact remains that even if one personally disagrees with what the New Testament writers taught about hell, what they did teach about hell was very clear — and any objective, scholarly evaluation of this cannot credibly deny their intent — even though the NT authors often used earthly examples or historical roots for words they adopted and made their own. The usage makes their intent abundantly clear even if we do not agree with that intent. Personally, I believe the intent of their communication and embrace it as God’s objective, propositional revelation.

Jean-Paul GerardApril 15, 2018

But eternal life is only “received” by people going in heaven. Eternal life in hell is not a biblical doctrine. The Judgment is eternal but what about the “soul of the wicked” ?
Also, would the creation really be restored if some people were still suffering torments in some kind of alternative realm ?
So many people died without knowing anything about Christ (e.g indegenous tribes) or even being able to understand the concept of sin itself.
Why should they go into an eternal damnation ?
If a 5yr old child die without accepting Christ, should he/she be tormented for eternity ? (Christ being the “only way”) Or is it an automatic free pass for a child ? (which bring unfairness)
Some people with low IQ growing up surrounded by crimes and dying from taking part, it’s all they knew.
Some were abused by priest or anything link to Christianity, ending up by putting them off.
Is 70 years on earth of an unrepented sinner worth an ETERNITY of torments ?
I believe that God is just but also loving.
Making people suffer for eternity doesn’t seem right.

David KowalskiApril 15, 2018

Jean-Paul:

Thanks for taking the time to read this article. To summarize your comment, you believe that, for various reasons, what the Bible teaches about hell does not seem “right” or “fair” to you. I suppose all of us would like to have the final word on what is fair or right — a prerogative that would, in effect, make us God.

Whether we like it or not (and many people clearly do not) God has given us an objective, propositional revelation of what He considers right and fair. The truth declared in that Word is that we all deserve eternal Hell and those who are saved do not deserve the mercy given through Christ alone and received through faith in Him.

Most orthodox scholars believe the Bible teaches that babies who have died before developing to a point of accountability for their choices will not give an unfavorable account for their instinctive behavior.

I sympathize with those people who dislike the idea of God’s eternal wrath but I am not at liberty to disavow what the Bible clearly teaches on this topic. We might not like what the Bible says but what it does say is quite clear. Your comment does not mention any point at which you contend that the Bible teaches differently than I assert. You dislike what the Bible says and I can only say that whether we like the truth or not, we cannot dismiss it merely because it does not suit our preferences.

Jean-Paul GerardApril 16, 2018

Thank you for you reply.
Can the wrath be eternal but not the living state of the wicked ? Because if they are separated from the God of “life” during the second death, won’t they just disappear ?

David KowalskiApril 16, 2018

As with your last question, Jean-Paul, I can only give an answer as to what the Bible teaches on the topic about which you express concern. You seem to think that an idea of spiritual death necessarily entails disappearance, which would lead us to embrace annihilationism if true. If we are using a definition created by you or me, it might be possible for us to say spiritual death means disappearance, but when teaching what the Bible says on a topic (as I am doing in the above article) we must ascertain the meaning of the word or concept as it is used in Scripture.

First, the Bible repeatedly indicates that the human soul is immortal or indestructible. Spiritual death in this life does not mean the soul disappears. Being separated from the life of God, the human soul in this life does not enjoy the quality of God’s life that is imparted in the new birth to those who receive the Lord of life in salvation.

Though the body of every person dies, each person’s body will be raised in the resurrection to eternal, indestructible existence — though some will spend eternity in God’s paradise while others will spend eternity in God’s wrath while they live throughout eternity in their indestructible, resurrected body.

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” — Daniel 12:2

“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” — John 5:28-29

“And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.”– Revelation 20:13

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” — Matthew 25:46

“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” — Acts 24:14-15

The Bible clearly teaches a resurrection of both the saved and unsaved, though these face differing destinies in which they will exist throughout eternity.

In your first comment, you essentially argued that the Bible does not teach what you would like it to. In this second comment, you have asserted that it does not mean what you think it should mean. Were my article one about what Jean-Paul says about hell, the meaning you prefer would, indeed, be pertinent. Since, however, my article is about what the Bible teaches, the meaning clearly conveyed in Scripture is the one that pertains to what I have written.

I do acknowledge that many people do not believe what the Bible says but I have neither the inclination nor the space to write about what each individual thinks about the topic of hell — and have limited myself here to a description of the clear communication from God on this topic in His objective, propositional revelation — a revelation that I believe even if some do not like what it says or if they think it should mean something other than the clear intent it conveys.

David KowalskiApril 16, 2018

Unfortunately, I cannot reply to everyone’s personal preferences on the topic of hell, and such preferences are not the subject of the above article (for which this comments thread exists). I would, however, be pleased to entertain any comments or questions that directly relate to what the Old Testament says about hell and will moderate comments or questions as to how they specifically relate to this.

J BenApril 26, 2018

Where does any of the text explain HELL (as you translate to be ENDLESS TORMENT) as a REAL place either in TIME or outside in some timeless eternal place rather than as being a state of becoming nonexistent (PERISHING) and where in the scripture does perish not mean to cease to exist? If there is a place for the dead soul to be tormented forever, why then does the text say the spirit returns to God and the flesh returns to dust? I can show you many verses that say “thus and so” shall go on forever and yet it is not doing so now. And so we take this “forever” to be metaphorical in meaning…why should we think perishing is to last forever rather than just to cease and forever be an end?

David KowalskiApril 26, 2018

Jesus refered to hell, where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” This clearly refers to an unending state. I recommend, as I have to others, Leslie Woodson’short book on what the Bible says about hell.

You pick isolated texts and ignore the larger context of Scriptural teaching, which clearly and repeatedly teaches a physical resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous dead (this is not just a spiritual matter). Perhaps you did not read my response to a similar comment above:

Though the body of every person dies, each person’s body will be raised in the resurrection to eternal, indestructible existence — though some will spend eternity in God’s paradise while others will spend eternity in God’s wrath while they live throughout eternity in their indestructible, resurrected body.

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” — Daniel 12:2

“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” — John 5:28-29

“And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.”– Revelation 20:13

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” — Matthew 25:46

“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” — Acts 24:14-15

The Bible clearly teaches a resurrection of both the saved and unsaved, though these face differing destinies in which they will exist throughout eternity.

J BenApril 26, 2018

Also I must state that I have contention about John 5:28-29 “those who have done good AND those who have done evil”…is in direct opposition to “salvation by grace” and “by faith”…which teaching is it? Are souls sent to heaven or hell based on FAITH or DEEDS?

David KowalskiApril 26, 2018

I am sorry you dislike what Jesus said. The overall teaching of the Bible is that people face retribution in hell for their disobedience in this life. The only way to avoid that fate is to have faith in Christ as savior. Souls are sent to heaven based on faith (through which they are justified and sanctified) and are sent to hell based on deeds.

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Written by David Kowalski

David Kowalski has worked as an English teacher (Abeka), high school administrator (ACE), in-school-suspension teacher (public school), Associate Pastor (two Assemblies of God churches), Senior Pastor (two Assemblies of God churches), and Bible College Professor (Global University).